Piyali Guha
Itanagar: Itanagar-based Himalaya Computech has announced plans to setup its
hardware-manufacturing unit in Pondicherry and launch its own PC range by the
end of 2009. To start with, the manufacturing unit will have the capacity to
produce around 1,500 PCs per month. "This is a very ambitious project for
us and we are taking care to make it a success," said Vikas Jain, CEO,
Himalaya Computech. Himalaya is talking to Intel and Microsoft for their direct
licensing. "Channel will definitely play a vital role to sell our products.
Having our own brand of PC will help in the turnkey projects. We are also
planning to setup our own service infrastructure. Service is another lucrative
domain and we are targeting to encash on the possibilities," he informed.
Himalaya plans to market its PC range in countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan,
Burma, which according to Jain are very big markets.
The company is purchasing land from the Pondicherry government to setup its
manufacturing plant. Although Jain refused to disclose any exact figures, since
the project was still at an early stage, he mentioned that it was a huge
investment.
Himalaya Computech started its operations in 2000 as a box-pusher and
partnered with IBM. Gradually the company went on to include a gamut of hardware
products to its portfolio and partnered with all leading brands as well as
software vendors like Microsoft and Oracle. "As business expanded we
started to bag big deals in the northeast catering to the government, SME and
education sectors," said Jain. In 2003 the company extended its operation
beyond Arunachal Pradesh, to places like Mizoram, Nagaland, Assam and Meghalaya,
and covered almost the entire region.
Later, the company shifted its focus to the government, education and SME
segments from the channel. Subsequently, Himalaya also started developing
software and focused on various e-governance projects in the northeast.
"Now our complete focus is in these segments.
Starting from system integration we provide various solutions like networking
and security as well as maintenance support to our clients," informed Jain.
Exploring opportunities beyond northeast, the company has opened a branch in
Pondicherry, while its Kolkata branch will be operational in the next couple of
months.
Himalaya has also partnered with Electronics Corporation of India and Bharat
Electricals to market their surveillance related products. "Surveillance is
an unexplored area with huge potential, especially in northeast, and we are the
only partner to have a good focus on this segment," said Jain.